Apple Watch clones beat the real thing to market

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during an Apple event announcing the iPhone 6 and the Apple Watch at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California, in this Sept 9, 2014 file photo.

But the important question is if these copycat versions represent a threat to the California-based company.

Neil Shah, a technology analyst at Counterpoint Research, said: "There should not be any impact on the sales of the Apple Watch from the knockoffs as the consumers looking to buy cheap copies are not Apple's target consumers anyway."

From smartphones to luxury items, there will always be knockoffs. It is a form of compliment. This proves that products are popular. But they will not have much effect on Apple's revenue, said Kenneth Liew, senior research manager at IDC Asia.

In fact, there are very few brands like Apple that have a loyal customer base. Apple is the most valuable brand in the world, according to a list that Forbes publishes every year.

John Fang, business analyst at China Market Research Group, said: "The vast majority of consumers would still buy Apple products from a trustworthy channel, such as the Apple Store and from big merchants such as JD.com and Suning, due to concerns on product quality." Apple officials, when contacted, declined to comment on the development.